Africa highlights: #MenAreTrash debate in South Africa, reverse FGM operations in Kenya

The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced that there is an Ebola outbreak in the north of the country.

While this will be extremely worrying for communities in the affected part of the country, it’s important to remember that the DR Congo has stamped out more Ebola outbreaks than any other place on earth. 

Ebola was first identified in DRC (then Zaire) in 1976. Since then, there have been at least nine outbreaks in the country. The last was in 2014, when, at the same time, parts of West Africa were fighting a separate outbreak, the worst in history.

DR Congo was able to bring an end to its epidemic within four months. 

In West Africa, which had never experienced an Ebola outbreak before, it took two years.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Tanzania's President John Magufuli expelled the head of the UN's Development Programme accusing her for the “deteriorating performance” of her office.

But this is disputed and some thought it was about her criticism of elections in Zanzibar

Not surprisingly, our satirical resident presidents have an opinion about that: 

The World Health Organization has stressed that anyone who has had contact with the person that died of Ebola needs to be traced.

This practice of contact tracing is vital to stop the spread of the virus.

The WHO is also offering its support to government of the Democratic Republic of Congo:

The BBC's Tamasin Ford recorded the gunfire she heard outside the main army barracks in Ivory Coast's main city, Abidjan.

Soldiers who were behind a mutiny at the beginning of the year were unhappy with a deal that was agreed last night that ended the payment of further bonuses.

But it was not clear which side the shooting was coming from.

Our reporter says that the head of the army is now trying to talk to the mutineers to try and resolve the problem.

The man who led Namibia to independence and the country's first President Sam Nujoma is 88 today.   

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State-owned New Era has marked his birthday by praising his "brave and fearless leadership". 

Quote Message: We are proud to celebrate the life and legacy of the leader of the Namibian revolution. Thank you for the freedom, independence, and thank you for laying the foundation of our future. "

We are proud to celebrate the life and legacy of the leader of the Namibian revolution. Thank you for the freedom, independence, and thank you for laying the foundation of our future. "

Namibia gained independence from apartheid South Africa in 1990.

Ahead of Kenya's elections in August, we asked you what issues you want us to report on.

Here is one example: 

• How are the politicians funding their election campaigns?

Kenya does not have an election campaign funding law. An attempt by the electoral commission to introduce one last year was defeated by MPs.

The commission had proposed four different caps for the different levels of elected officials:

• President: $50m
• Governor: $4m
• Members of National Assembly (MPs and Senators): $290,000
• Members of County Assembly: $97,000

The absence of the law means candidates are currently free to spend as much as they want.

Read about other questions and send us your ideas

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Africa's oldest synagogue on Tunisia's Djerba island has been welcoming pilgrims today, AFP reports.

AFPCopyright: AFP

It is the start of the two-day annual pilgrimage to the synagogue, which is thought to have been founded in 586 BC by Jews fleeing the destruction of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem, AFP adds.

The people come for the festival of Lag B'Omer, which marks the 33rd day since the end of Passover.

The organisers are expecting 3,000 visitors who will go to pray and light candles.

AFPCopyright: AFP

EPACopyright: EPA

Just before the pilgrimage in 2002, the synagogue was hit by an al-Qaeda attack killing 21 people.

More than 35 women who had previously undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in Kenya have benefited from the offer of free reconstructive surgery. 

This is part of a campaign by a local private hospital aimed at restoring the self-esteem among the circumcised women. 

A mother of two, Jane tells me that she has decided to undergo the procedure to save her marriage of 15 years.

She says her partner complains about their sexual relationship and blames it on the FGM she underwent before they got married:

Quote Message: I decided to come here because I wanted to get sexual pleasure back. I have been suffering like since I got married. My husband complains all the time; my friends stigmatise me...

I decided to come here because I wanted to get sexual pleasure back. I have been suffering like since I got married. My husband complains all the time; my friends stigmatise me...

Quote Message: So I decided that I should come and get this reconstructive surgery at least I can have that pleasure back and then to please him so that he does not go out because I know he has a reason to go out."

So I decided that I should come and get this reconstructive surgery at least I can have that pleasure back and then to please him so that he does not go out because I know he has a reason to go out."

Dr Marci Bowers, from the US, who has practiced reconstructive surgery for women with the aim of restoring their sexual pleasure says sexual feeling is important just like the other senses: 

David Wambundo.Copyright: David Wambundo.

Quote Message: We have to consider sexual feeling like we respect other senses like sight and touch, vision, hearing but life is better with sexual feeling."

We have to consider sexual feeling like we respect other senses like sight and touch, vision, hearing but life is better with sexual feeling."

Being a woman in South Africa is like being trapped in a locked room - you can hear someone walking outside and you know they will come in one day and you won't be able to stop them.

Nothing can protect you - not the pepper spray in your bag, not the self-defence classes you got as a gift for your birthday when your breasts developed, not travelling in groups, not the saying NO you've been taught to say should that day come - nothing.

It is learning to be "vigilant" before you even know what it is to feel safe.

It is feeling unsafe everywhere, all the time.

African societies are built on patriarchy - every young girl grows up knowing that a man is the head, that he is powerful, that he is a go-getter, a conqueror. 

We are taught to admire these very traits about you, and I do. But dear God I am afraid of you - and with good reason.

The statistics in this country are not in my or any woman's favour. They say that one day I, or someone I know, will be your victim.

AFPCopyright: AFP

Following the confirmation that one person in the Democratic Republic of Congo has died of Ebola, the health ministry says "our country must confront an outbreak of the Ebola virus that constitutes a public health crisis of international significance," the Reuters news agency reports.

The World Health Organization is tweeting that it is backing the government:

An Ebola outbreak has been declared in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo after it was confirmed that one person was killed by the virus, a World Health Organization spokesperson has told the BBC.

Reuters reports that the last recorded Ebola case in the country was in 2014 when dozens died.

This case "is in a very remote zone, very forested, so we are a little lucky," WHO spokesman Eric Kabambi told Reuters.

The World Health Organization says a case of Ebola has been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo:

The Reuters news agency reports that the test comes from nine people who had hemorrhagic fever.

Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone were hit by an Ebola outbreak in which more than 11,000 people died between 2014 and 2015.

In the last hour there has been heavy gunfire in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's economic capital. 

It comes after former rebels, now part of the army, blocked the roads outside the army headquarters.  

I witnessed a scene of panic in Plateau, the city's financial district.

People were running through the streets with the sound of heavy gunfire behind them. 

We have been told they were blanks being fired but remember this is a city that experienced devastating fighting during the country's civil war.  

People here know the damage stray bullets can do.  

This is all about the former rebels who had fought for years to bring President Alassane Ouattara to power.  

They brought the country to a standstill back in January demanding back pay and bonuses. 

That request was granted, but  then on national TV last night, the deal was scrapped.  

Soldiers in military bases all over the country have been shooting in the air in protest.

The roads in Plateau, normally choked with traffic, are now quiet:

Quiet streetCopyright: Quiet street

BBCCopyright: BBC

Three years ago the birthday of Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure nearly became a resigning issue.

His manager Pep Guardiola, speaking ahead of tomorrow's English Premier League game against Leicester City, touched on this issue again. 

Journalists asked him whether the club was planning to get a cake for the Ivorian player to mark his birthday, he said that they will get him the "biggest one as possible":

The midfielder turns 34 tomorrow. 

In 2014, Toure threatened to leave the club because the club failed to send him best wishes for his birthday. 

The manager also revealed that he has not spoken to Toure about his future at the club. 

Guardiola also spoke about Nigerian sytriker Kelechi Iheanacho: "He has not played much. Kelechi is a killer in the box. It is my decision whether he is picked, everybody can discuss it. End of the season we will talk about Kelechi."

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Choco Togo is a small but growing chocolate producer run by a co-operative of young entrepreneurs. The company produces organic locally-made chocolate for the Togolese market. 

The BBC's Africa Business Report went to see Choco Togo in action at its small factory in Togo's capital, Lome:

President Uhuru Kenyatta has welcomed the BBC's plan to expand its operations in Kenya:

The BBC will be investing nearly $10m (£7m) to move into a modern multimedia studio in the capital, Nairobi and create 250 new jobs, with 200 going to Kenyans. 

BBC Africa editor Solomon Mugera told the president that the investment will provide an internship and mentoring programme for upcoming journalists, digital and technical producers. 

The BBC is also introducing three new language services in East Africa.

Those in Amharic, Afaan Oromo and Tigrinya will be produced in Nairobi for audiences in Ethiopia and Eritrea. 

The BBC already produces Kiswahili and Somali programmes from its bureau in Nairobi. 

South Sudan President Salva Kiir has moved to calm tension in the country following his decision on Tuesday to fire army chief Paul Malong. 

In a letter shared by a local media he said the security situation in the country was normal, and urged citizens to carry on with their daily routines. 

Gen Malong reportedly left the capital, Juba, with a group of loyal soldiers, after he was relieved of his duties, creating fear that he was planning a rebellion. 

Mr Kiir said he was in touch with the former general, saying that he had assured him of his safety when he returns to the capital. 

Gen Malong, who is reportedly in Yirol town, north of the capital, said he was not planning a rebellion but wanted to rest in his home region of Bahr El Ghazal, according to the Sudan Tribune. 

Read:Find out more about South Sudan

Cases of dengue fever have been reported in Ivory Coast. 

One case of type three dengue was confirmed last week in the main city, Abidjan, and 17 others have been reported but not confirmed. 

The government has dispatched a team of dengue exterminators who have been going house to house in Abidjan today on a killer mission against the mosquito larvae. 

BBCCopyright: BBC

The service is free and the exterminators are on the lookout for mosquito egg-laying places like shower drains and plants' leaves. 

They sprayed my shower and a floor drain in the kitchen as well as some plants in the yard.

One of the exterminators, Mokhtar, told me to remove a dustpan in the yard which had some rainwater in it.

It was "an invitation for the mosquitoes," he said. 

The brutal murder of a woman in South Africa has sparked a debate in the country over gender-based violence.

There has been widespread outrage after the burnt remains of a young woman, Karabo Mokoena, were found.

People have been using the hashtag #MenAreTrash to highlight the issue. But some are angry with the generalisation:

  But others see it as the starting point for a thoughtful discussion:  

Writing in the Daily Maverick Rev Lawrence Mduduzi Ndlovu says that the generalisation is not the issue: "This is not a conversation about the accuracy of a syllogism but rather about the female experience."  

Quote Message: The reason why so many men miss the point about this view is that there has never been, on the part of many men, an opportunity to enter into the experience of being a woman.

The reason why so many men miss the point about this view is that there has never been, on the part of many men, an opportunity to enter into the experience of being a woman.

Quote Message: One has to really lose his manly security and enter into the insecure world of a woman where she can barely walk alone at night or on any deserted patch of land and not be afraid."

One has to really lose his manly security and enter into the insecure world of a woman where she can barely walk alone at night or on any deserted patch of land and not be afraid."